Liturgy Preparation - Association Of Catholic Priests

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Julieann Moran: Role of women, married priests and sexuality featured early in the synodal pathway
October 11 2026
Helena Greene
It seems to me that the topics that would have afforded equality to women have been well erased following the discernment process. I feel that clericalism and patriarchy are still alive and well. When will the breath of the Spirit dislodge the deep roots which have been extending their holt since the 4th century?
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Julieann Moran: Role of women, married priests and sexuality featured early in the synodal pathway
October 11 2026
Sean O'Conaill
What will the inequality of women and laity in the church mean when there will soon be no clergy in the church to be unequal to? And if synodality could indeed ever become a clerical/patriarchal monopoly, what term should we use to describe the intercommunion of Christian-lay-people-without-clergy that will nevertheless be necessary? Why not consider the possibility that the dominant historical trend is the making of a Christian diaspora that is more free of clerical patriarchy than it has ever been - and can now organise itself as it pleases - and that all of this may be today's equivalent of the Exodus from Egypt, an oppressive model of church that became expert in own-goals - mistakes that raise serious questions over what the church became under Christendom: oblivious of that kingdom of God that was 'at hand' for Jesus but became an unvisited mystery for a clerical church that was focused on 'eternity' - more concerned to warn us of Hell and promise us Heaven if we only 'paid, prayed and obeyed'? Was that Kingdom of God ever 'indefinitely postponed'? Is it not still 'at hand'? Could we not be discussing that possibility, synodally?
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America Magazine: The death of the American conscience will be livestreamed
October 11 2026
Robert McDonnell
I'd speculate that this unsavoury event is aimed more at sending a message to Islamic terrorism than just being a gory primetime show. It's interesting though that Pope Leo in the past has linked death penalty executions with abortion deaths. But unfortunately, innocent unborn children are being executed every day by abortion in our maternity hospitals and in homes with abortion pills, having committed no crime, other than having been given human life by God. 11,000 each year in Ireland and more than one million in the EU annually, fully supported by most of our politicians, particularly on the left. Yet, we all seem to remain silent to this slaughter of the innocents on our own doorstep. We know that the Church unequivocally condemns it but there seems little or no protest beyond that. There are a few great advocates against abortion out there however, who fight daily to expose the horror, one example that springs to mind is in Ireland: https://x.com/PreciousLifeCom
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Remembering Ludmila Javorová ‘A Priest Forever’ – Catholic Campaigners Call On Pope Leo to Recognise Her Priesthood
October 7 2026
Soline Humbert
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. The ordination of women is not permitted … and yet it has happened. It has become a reality in the life of the Church. -Fr Václav Ventura, Homily, Funeral of Ludmila Javorová https://www.youtube.com/live/jKupGB_6Rys?is=_rlFtX2rB_LizKnY The final farewell to Ludmila Javorová took place on 10 October at her funeral mass celebrated in the Catholic Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Brno-Židenice, Czech Republic. In a parish filled to capacity, an altar crowded with male Catholic priests concelebrating from both Latin and Byzantine rites, and friends attending virtually by livestream, hundreds gathered from around the world to honour this inspiring woman. Explicit acknowledgement was made of the authenticity of her ordination. Fr. Ventura explained that when women in prison asked Bishop Felix Davidek for access to the sacraments and to the Church, the proposed solution was to ordain women to priesthood. Knowing full well the grave danger this would pose for Ludmila and other women ordained, Bishop Davidek asked if she would accept ordination. She said yes. In so doing, she gave her life for others … even, if necessary, to the point of martyrdom. Fr. Ventura observed that during the years of the Second Vatican Council, the question of women’s ordination in general was being raised in many quarters. Bishop Davidek’s decision to ordain women was clear despite many protests from within his own ranks. In responding to the call to priesthood, Ludmila took upon herself the decision to go to prison. This, Fr. Ventura pointed out, is the very essence of her priesthood: ‘to give her life for others even to the point of martyrdom.’ The homily was preached (see 36:18 in the video linked above… in English thanks to an interpreter) by Fr Václav Ventura. He is a Byzantine rite priest and friend of Ludmila’s who himself was ordained in the Koinótés community during the Occupation by Soviets. He reflected, ‘Each of us has an irreplaceable and unique calling within God’s economy of creation. Sometimes that calling is so unique that it seems almost unbelievable and even impossible from many perspectives and yet it is often prophetic.' He spoke about how persecution liberated the people of the underground Koinótés community from layers of historical accretions of Church history. Their encounter with Christianity during witnessing interrogations by secret police, imprisonment and seeing friends martyred opened them to deeper freedom in the power and beauty of Jesus’s message. The moving service included tributes from family, brother priests, and theologians (who matter of factly pointed out there is no justification for the exclusion of women from priesthood!). It was especially poignant to see and hear the recognition, respect and admiration openly expressed for her by her brother priests.
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Julieann Moran: Role of women, married priests and sexuality featured early in the synodal pathway

Julieann Moran: Role of women, married priests and sexuality featured early in the synodal pathway

America Magazine: The death of the American conscience will be livestreamed

Remembering Ludmila Javorová ‘A Priest Forever’ – Catholic Campaigners Call On Pope Leo to Recognise Her Priesthood